Demolition Set to Take Place at Historic Barrington Estate Raises Concerns

Demolition Set to Take Place at Historic Barrington Estate Raises Concerns

Residents of Barrington have been informed by the town this week that portions of the historic Belton Court Estate on Middle Highway are slated for demolition next month. 

The property was last used by the Zion Bible College before it moved in 2008. The estate's main building was built in 1905 for Frederick Stanhope Peck, a businessman and Rhode Island political figure, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. 

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The main mansion itself is not slated for demolition at this time, but members of the community and at least one Town Council member are concerned about the decay of the historic property, and whether or not it can be saved. 

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The property is currently owned by Shineharmony, a Franklin Massachusetts-based holding company that has indicated with the town it plans to develop senior and assisted living facilities on the premises. 

“The biggest concern for the community is the main building,” said Barrington Town Councilor Jacob Brier. “Everything I know and have seen is the main building not part of the demolition. The buildings that are being demolished are non-historic buildings to make the area safe — it’s a source for local teens to hang out.”

East Bay resident Alex Goldstein — who runs a Belton Court Instagram account detailing the property’s history and decay — said he is afraid not enough residents know about the property, or its history. 

“The issue is that many people don’t really know what’s going on inside,” said Goldstein.  

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“I hear people are getting hurt inside the mansion — some was smashing a porcelain sink inside recently and there was blood. I saw a group of 13 and 14-year-old kids another time just hanging out, and another group up on the roof,” said Goldstein. 

Goldstein said he first saw the historic estate in 2018, and fell in love with it. 

“How is this place getting left to rot?” he asked. 

“The house was built with such high-quality materials. Barrington would lose its greatest landmark. The Peck Family donated the town library, there used to be a little fire station across the street that they donated,” said Goldstein. “They did so much for Barrington it’s hard to believe that Barrington could allow this destruction of a Rhode Island family's legacy.”

“They weren’t the Vanderbilts here for the summer. They lived here and called Rhode Island home,” he said. “It would be a loss for the community. I don’t believe the community is fully aware.”

"Demolition by Decay"

"The master plan includes renovating Belton Court into an assisting living facility, with 290 units — and I believe 15 assisted living care in that main building itself and shared space for the larger community," said Brier of development plans on the property. 

"That would be pragmatic, but every year that building goes into disrepair, I think it’s hard for a business to make money with a $25 million-plus price tag for renovations," said Brier, of Shineharmony owning the property since 2011.  "There are many who have said they want to see this historic property preserved. I am right with them. I wanted to see it partly used as a museum and event space — and the rest of property for senior and assisted living."

"They’ve taken close to ten years of demolition by decay," said Brier, of Shineharmony owning the property -- and allowing it to crumble. "It might be the second or third most historic building in the town and now they have waited us out. It's unfortunate this has happened, that this historic treasure could be wasted. 

"Once it’s gone — the area becomes very profitable," he said. 

Multiple efforts to reach out to Shineharmony by GoLocal were unsuccessful.